Date of Award
12-1980
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Jack L. Michael
Second Advisor
Dr. Arthur Snapper
Third Advisor
Dr. Wayne Fuqua
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The role of reinforcement magnitude in the transfer of stimulus control was analyzed using a delayed prompting procedure. A delay was gradually lengthened between the presentations of the relevant discriminative stimulus and an imitative prompt. During one condition, the contingencies of reinforcement were arranged such that the reinforcement available for anticipatory and prompt-controlled responses were equal. During another condition, responses which preceded delivery of the prompt were given more reinforcement than prompt-controlled responses. Two subjects were exposed to these conditions in the context of acquiring a series of receptive discrimination tasks. Results were inconclusive. Mean trials to criterion showed little variability for either subject. Percentages for correct anticipations as well as prompt-controlled responses were inconsistent under both conditions. However, use of the delayed prompting procedure produced high percentages of correct responding.
Recommended Citation
Adler, Beverly S., "An Analysis of the Role of Reinforcement Magnitude in the Transfer of Stimulus Control in a Receptive Discrimination Task" (1980). Masters Theses. 1861.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1861